Mining machine



T. E. PRAY MINING MACHINE July 9, 1935.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed April 19, 1935 ZAonwE wa-w July 9, 1935. T. E. PRAY MINING MACHINE Original Filed April 19, 193-?) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 9, 1935 UNITED STATES MINING MACHINE Thomas E. Pray, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Goodman Manufacturing Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation oflllinois I Original application April 19, 1 l33, Serial No.

666,838. Divided and this apphcatlon December 4, 1933, Serial No. 700,811

13 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in mining machines, and more particularly to: coal cutting machines of the track mounted type adapted to cut a kerf in a mine wall by movement of the 5 truck along the track and by swinging movement of the cutter bar across the front of the machine and has among other objects to provide a new and improved means for mounting the truck axles for tilting the cutter bar foradjustmerit to varying cutting conditions which means serves as an equalizing means when traveling along or cutting from the mine tracks.

This invention is a division of an'application Serial No. 666,838, filed April-19, 1933,'and entitled Improvements in mining machines.

- My invention may be moreclearly understood with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: T

Figure 1 is a top plan view of one embodiment of my invention with certain parts broken away and in section;

Figure 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the forward portion of the device shown in Figure 1, with certain parts broken away and shown in substantiallylongitudinal section;

Figure 31's an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along line 3-3 of Figure 1; V

Figure 4 is'an'genlarged detail view of the truck frame with'parts broken away and insection; and Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along line 55 of Figure '1.

' Like numerals refer to like parts 'throughou-t the various figures.

In the drawings, the machine generally comprises a wheeled truck H3 adapted to travel on tracks laid on the mine floor. Mounted on the truck is a "turntable having a pair of upright frame members l2, l2 spacedapart and'supporting between them 'a'cutting element l3 extending forwardly and rearwardly of the supporting frame members l2, l2 and including a main frame l4; amotor "I secured to and extending rearwardly of said main frame, and a pair of parallel spaced horizontally disposed cutter chain" carrying cutter bars l 6 and I1 extending forwardly of said mainframe.

The mining machine is so arranged and constructed that the cutter bars I6 and l! may cut an entire dirt band'from the coal face, which may be loaded and discharged away from the mining machine proper in a manner which is no part ofmy present inventionand which has been fully described in my aforementioned application of which this is a division. The cutting element l3 and mechanism for gathering and loading the cuttings will not herein be described in detail since they are no part of my present invention.

Referring now in particular to the support for the wheeled truck it and several of the novel features of my invention, said wheeled truck includes a truck frame 2| carried by a rearward axleZZ having track wheels 23, 23 thereon. 'The rearward axle 22 is herein'preferably shown 'as being rigidly journaled in the truck frame 2| so as to be incapable of axial movement with respect thereto. The forward portion of the truck frame 2| is supported on a floating axle 24 having track wheels 25, 25 thereon, which floating axle is so arranged as to be axially movable with respect to said truck frame to compensate for irregularities in the mine track and to permit vertical adjustment of the truck frame 2| with respect thereto for adjusting the angle of the cutter bars l6 and I! with respect to the coal face to permit said cutter bars to cut a horizontal 'kerf in the mine wall where the track is uneven; or to permit said cutter bars to readily follow a pitching seam.

With reference now in particular to the means for adjustingthe angular position of the cutter bars l6 and IT with respect to the mine bottom, and the means for equalizing the truck wheels for travel over uneven mine tracks, the forward truckaxle 24 is journaled in a pair of 'fulcrumed levers 21, 2'? adjacent its opposite ends, but herein shownas being inwardly of the truck wheels 25, 25. Thefulcrumed levers 21, 21 are pivoted adjacent their rearward ends on pivotal pins 28, 28 carried by suitable brackets 29, 29 formed by pairs of spaced angles secured to the truck frame 2| in a suitable manner.

The axle 24 is journaled intermediate the ends of the fulcrumed levers 21, 2'! and the free end of each of said 'fulcrumed leversis adapted to slidably engage the under surface of one lever arm 33 of bell crank members 3|, 3| (see Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5). The bell crank members 3|, 3| are pivotally supported on the truck frame 2| by means of pivot pins 33, 33 carried by brackets 34, 34, which brackets are formed by pairs of spaced angles which are secured to the truck frame 2| in a suitable manner. Another lever arm 35 of each bell crank member3l, extends downwardly from the pivotal pin 33 and has a forked" lower end. Nuts36, 36 are trunnioned in the forked portions of the lever arms 35 of the bell cranks 3| for pivotal movement with respect thereto about horizontal axes extending longitudinally of the machine. The nuts 36, 36 are adapted to have the opposite ends of a transverselyextending -rod 31 threaded therein sothat move-- ment of one fulcrumed lever 21 in one direction will cause movement of the opposite fulcrumed lever 21 in an opposite direction. Thus when one rail is raised and the opposite rail is depressed, the bell crank members 3|, 3| will be moved in a clockwise direction by means of the fulcrumed member 21 adjacent the raised rail and the rod 31 which will depress the fulcrumed member 21 adjacent the depressed rail and hold the respective track wheel in engagement with the rail, permitting the truck frame 2| and cutting element |3 toremain in a substantially horizontal position. f 1' A I The threads on the end of the transversely extending rod 31 are so cut that the bell crank members 3|, 3| may move simultaneously towards or away from the longitudinal center line of the truck frame 2| depending upon the direction of rotation of the rod 31 for pivoting said bell crank members about their axis of pivotal connection to the truck frame 2| and pivoting said truck frame about the axis of the rearward truck axle 22 for raising or lowering the forward portion of said truck frame with respect to the axle 24 in an obvious manner.

The threaded rod 31 has universal couplings 39, 39 secured to its opposite ends in a suitable manner. Sleeves 40, 40 are carried on the outer ends of the universal couplings 39, 39 and have sliding and driving engagement with the universal couplings 39, 39. The sleeves 40, 40 have driving engagement with other universal couplings 4|, 4|, which couplings in turn have sockets 42, 42 formed integral therewith for receiving squared shafts 43, 43 carried in the truck frame 2| in a suitable manner so that the transversely extending rod 31 will be free to move transversely with respect to the truck frame 2| and so that rotation of either one of the squared shafts 43, 43 by means of a suitable hand lever will pivot the truck frame 2| about the rearward axle 22 and elevate or lower the forward ends of the cutter bars l6 and I1.

It may thus be seen that a new and improved equalizing means has been provided for permitting the mining machine to travel over relatively rough tracks without derailing; that said equalizing means holds the truck frame and cutting element in a substantially horizontal position where one rail is either raised or depressed; that said means also acts as a means for adjusting the angle of the mining machine and cutting element with respect to the mine bottom for permitting said cutting element to out where the tracks are irregular or where the bottom or coal seam is pitching and that said means is as effective for elevating the cutter bar in cases where the track is uneven as where it is even.

While I have herein shown and described one form of my invention, it will be understood that the construction and arrangement of the various parts may be altered without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Furthermore, I do not wish to be construed as limiting myself to the specific form illustrated, excepting as it may be specifically limited in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination with a track-mounted mining machine, a truck including a truck frame supported on track wheels and axles, a cutting element on said truck frame including a horizontal chain-carrying cutter bar, and means for equalizing said track wheels to compensate for irregular tracks and also elevating or lowering said truck frame with respect to one of said axles comprising a transversely movable rod, a pair of bell crank members, each of said bell crank members having connection with one of said axles on opposite sides of the longitudinal center line of said truck frame, and a threaded connection between said bell crank members and rod so that rotation of said rod in one direction or another will pivot said bell crank levers and pivot said truck frame and cutter bar about the axis of said other axle.

2. In a mining machine, a truck frame, a forwardly projecting cutting element supported on said truck frame including a horizontal chaincarrying cutter bar, an axle journaled in said truck frame having wheels thereon, a floating axle for supporting said truck frame having wheels thereon, and means for pivoting said truck frame about said first-mentioned axle and elevating or lowering the forward end of said cutter bar comprising a pair of fulcrumed levers forming a bearing support for said floating axle intermediate their ends, and a transversely movable member having connection with said fulcrumed levers in such a manner that rotation of said transversely movable member will cause simultaneous pivotal movement of said fulcrumed levers with respect to said truck frame.

3. In a mining machine, a truck frame, a forwardly projecting cutting element supported on said truck frame including a horizontal chaincarrying cutter bar, an axle journaled in said truck frame having wheels thereon, a floating axle for supporting said truck frame having wheels thereon, and means for pivoting said truck frame about said first-mentioned axle and elevating or lowering the forward end of said cutter bar comprising a pair of fulcrumed levers forming a hearing support for said floating axle intermediate their ends, a transversely movable member having connection with said fulcrumed levers in such a manner that pivotal movement of one of said fulcrumed levers in one direction will cause transverse movement of said transversely movable member and pivotal movement of said opposite fulcrumed lever in an opposite direction and rotation of said transversely movable member will cause simultaneous pivotal movement of said fulcrumed levers with respect to said truck frame.

4. In a mining machine, a truck frame, a forwardly projecting cutting element supported on said truck frame including a horizontal chaincarrying cutter bar, an axle journaled in said truck frame having wheels thereon, a floating axle for supporting said truck frame having wheels thereon, and means for pivoting said truck frame about said first-mentioned axle and elevating or lowering the forward end of said cutter bar comprising a pair of fulcrumed levers forming a bearing support for said floating axle intermediate their ends, a pair of bell crank members having pivotal connection with said truck frame intermediate their ends and having sliding engagement with the free ends of said fulcrumed levers with one of their lever arms, and a transversely movable member having an adjustable and pivotal connection with the other lever arms of said bell crank members.

5. In combination with a mining machine, a truck frame, a cutting element on said truck frame including a projecting horizontal cutter bar, wheels and axles supporting said truck frame for propulsion, means for tilting said cutter bar about one of said axles and maintaining said truck frame in a substantially level position transversely of the track during cutting where the track is uneven comprising a pair of bell crank members, each of said bell crank members having operative connection with an outer end of one of said truck axles and forming a supporting means for said truck axle, and a transverse bar adjustably connecting said bell crank members together.

6. In combination with a mining machine, a truck frame, a cutting element on said truck frame including a projecting cutter bar, wheels and axles for supporting said truck frame for propulsion, means for tilting said cutter bar about the rearwardmost of said axles and maintaining said truck frame in a substantially level position transversely of the track irrespective of the contour of the track comprising a pair of bell crank members, each of said members having connection with an outer end of the forwarclmost truck axle and forming a supporting means for said truck axle, and a transverse member adjustably connecting said bell crank members together.

'7. In combination with a mining machine, a

truck frame, a cutting element on said truck frame including a projecting horizontal cutter bar, wheels and axles supporting said truck frame for propulsion, means for tilting said cutter bar about one of said axles and maintaining said truck frame in a substantially level position transversely'of the track irrespective of the contour of said track comprising a pair of bell crank members, each of said bell crank members having connection with an outer end of one of said truck axles and forming a supporting means for said axle, and a threaded transverse bar adjustably connecting said bell crank members together whereby rotation of said bar in one direction will pivot said bell crank members and elevate the forward end of said truck frame and rotation of said bar in an opposite direction will lower the forward end of said truck frame.

8. In a track-mounted truck, a frame supported on track wheels and axles, and means for equalizing said track wheels to compensate for irregular tracks, said means also acting as a means for pivoting an end of said truck frame about one of said axles and holding said truck frame in an adjusted position with respect thereto comprising a transversely movable rod, a pair of bell crank members pivoted about parallel-spaced longitudinally extending axes, means for connecting one lever arm of each of said bell crank members with an end of one of said axles, and an adjustable connection between the other lever arms of said bell crank members and rod.

9. In a track-mounted truck, a frame supported on track wheels and axles, and means for equalizing said track Wheels to compensate for i regular tracks, said means also acting as a means for pivoting an end of said truck frame about one of said axles and holding said truck frame in an adjusted osition with respect thereto compris ing a transversely movable rod, a pair of bell crank members pivoted about parallel-spaced longitudinally extending axes, means for connecting one lever arm of each of said bell crank members with an end of one of said axles and a threaded connection between said rod and the other lever arms of said bell crank membersand rod whereby rotation of said rod will simultaneously pivot said bell crank levers and pivot said truck about said other axle.

10. In a track-'mounted truck, a truck frame, an axle journaled in said truck frame having wheels thereon, a floating axle having wheels thereon for supporting the other end of said truck frame, and means for equalizing said wheels to compensate for irregular tracks and also pivoting said truck frame about said first-mentioned axle comprising a pair of fulcrumed levers forming a bearing support for said floating axle intermediate their ends, and a transversely movable member having connection with said fulcrumed levers in such a manner that rotation of said transversely movable member will cause simultaneous pivotal movement of said fulcrumed levers with respect to said truck frame.

11. In a track-mounted truck, a truck frame, an axle journaled in said truck frame having wheels thereon, a floating axle having wheels thereon for supporting the other end of said truck frame, and means for equalizing said wheels to compensate for irregular tracks and also pivoting said truck frame about said first-mentioned axle comprising a pair of fulcrumed levers forming a bearing support for said floating axle intermediate their ends, and a transversely movable member having connection with said fulcrumed levers in such a manner that pivotal movement of one of said fulcrumed levers in one direction will cause transverse movement of said transverely movable member and pivotal movement of said opposite fulcrumed lever in an opposite direction and rotation of said transversely movable member will cause simultaneous pivotal movement of said fulcrumed levers with respect to said truck frame.

12. In a track-mounted truck, a truck frame, an axle journaled in said truck frame having wheels thereon, a floating axle having wheels thereon for supporting the other end of said truck frame, and means for equalizing said wheels to compensate for irregular tracks and also pivoting said truck frame about said first-mentioned axle and holding said frame in an adjusted position with respect thereto comprising a pair of fulcrumed levers forming a bearing support for said floating axle intermediate their ends, a pair of bell crank members having pivotal connection with said truck frame intermediate their ends and having sliding supporting engagement with the free ends of said fulcrumed levers with one of their arms, and a transversely movable member having an adjustable connection with the other lever arms of said bell crank member.

13. In a track-mounted truck, a truck frame, an axle journaled in said truck frame having Wheels thereon, a floating axle having wheels thereon for supporting the other end of said truck frame, and means for equalizing said wheels to compensate for irregular tracks and also pivoting said truck frame about said first-mentioned axle and holding said frame in an adjusted position with respect thereto comprising a pair of fulcrumed levers forming a bearing support for said floating axle intermediate their ends, a pair of bell crank members having pivotal connection with said truck frame intermediate their ends and having sliding supporting engagement with the free ends of said fulcrumed levers with one of their lever arms, and a transversely movable threaded member having an adjustable connec tion with the other lever arm of said bell crank member whereby rotatable movement of said member will pivot said bell crank member and fulcrumed levers.

THOMAS E. PRAY. 

